Aaric let out a breath, the air around him thick with a putrid stench. Torn flesh, eyes, and twitching tentacles lay strewn across the grass, the remnants of something not meant for mortal eyes.

Behind him, the tree rustled. Golden leaves drifted down, settling on the gore. Where they touched, the mess melted into streams of molten gold, seeping into the soil until no trace remained.

Aaric sank onto the grass and stared at the sky. His mind was still reeling from what had just happened.

The stag’s hooves clicked against the ground as it returned, Luna perched on its back. She smiled when she saw him but the smile faded at once, replaced with a frown as she noticed the false calm on his face.

Sliding down, she kneeled before him, cupping his cheek with a soft hand.”What happened?” she asked, worry threading her voice.

Aaric sighed and placed his hand over hers.”Let’s not talk about it right now. It wasn’t serious… just overwhelming.”

Luna searched his eyes for a moment, then nodded. She knew he would tell her in time. Quietly, she sat beside him, resting her head against his shoulder, offering him warmth without words.

Aaric smiled faintly, wrapping his arm around her as she shifted and pressed closer against his chest.

“How long?” he asked.”Four days,” Luna murmured.

Aaric nodded. In the Dreamlands, time was fluid what passed as a week here amounted to a single night in the waking world.

After a moment, he asked, “Do you remember the island we visited? the one with the fairies that liked you?”

Luna’s lips curved. “Mm. They were sweet.”

“Think you could convince some to live here? They’d help nurture the magic of this place.” Aaric asked.

She hummed thoughtfully, then stood with sudden brightness. “Yes. And they liked playing with you too. Let’s go together.” She stretched out a hand toward him.

Aaric smirked, took her hand, and stood. But he shook his head.”No… I need to blow off some steam first. I’ll join you after.”

Luna pouted, tugging at his hand. “This is the second time you’ve said that today.”

He chuckled, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll be yours to command after today.”

Her pout deepened until her face looked round as a puffskein. “Fine. But I’ll make you dance for me when you come back,” she huffed, tapping his chest lightly before mounting the stag again.

As she flew off, Aaric smiled, shaking his head. He crouched low, weaving a streamlined barrier around himself, then launched into the sky at high speed.

Beneath the island, hidden deep in the soil, golden roots burrowed greedily into the butchered remains of the intruding god. The gore pulsed with light before being drawn into the island’s heart.

(Thanquol POV)

They chose me, the mighty Thanquol, as second-in-command to that rat-fool Warlord Skritch? The Council is full of blind idiots, yes-yes! How could they not see my genius, my greatness?

Thanquol hunched over and snorted a jagged hunk of warpstone, his chest convulsing as the corrupted energy seared through him. His fur bristled, his tail lashed, and his eyes bulged with power.

“The first invasion of the Skaven into new lands, and I Thanquol am put second? Tragic! Foolish! A crime against destiny!”

He spread his arms to the shadows, saliva flying.”Yes-yes, the Council of Thirteen will kneel before me! Glorious Thanquol, ruler of all!”

A nearby slave twitched at his words. Thanquol’s whiskers twitched. He knew. The little wretch was already plotting to run and tell the Council. With a flick of his paw, Thanquol made the slave’s head burst like rotten fruit.

“Backstabbers and betrayers, everywhere! Mongrels! Vermin among vermin!”

He bent and inhaled another crystal line of warpstone, shuddering as green lightning licked along his claws.

“I will be the one to conquer the new lands, yes-yes! The Horned Rat will make me his right hand… no, I will replace him entirely! Thanquol, god above gods!”

The door opened. Warlord Skritch entered, smug as always. His nose lifted skyward, his armor gleaming.

Thanquol smiled thinly. “Ah, Skritch. Mighty-fool. You come to gloat-gloat? But I have a gift for you, yes…”

Before Skritch could answer, Thanquol’s paw flicked. A surge of corrupted magic tore through the warlord’s face, vaporizing it in a blast of warp-energy. The armored body slumped, headless, at Thanquol’s feet.

The guards stared. Thanquol spread his claws, voice dripping with false sorrow.”Tragic accident, yes-yes! Skritch was tampering with forbidden relics. I, Thanquol, will humbly take his place.”

The guards nodded frantically, not daring to question him.

Thanquol snorted another line and grinned, eyes rolling.”Soon, all will bow. Even the Horned Rat will beg for my favor…”

One day later, Thanquol stood before the massed armies of the clans. Clan pestilence to side, because they smell bad, slaves whimpered.

A skaven stab the one in front of him, thinking on one was looking. Thanquol saw, His staff flicked, and the offender’s head burst apart in gore.

“We fight fair, yes-yes! Fair means we outnumber the enemy at least ten-to-one!” The clans roared approval.

He snarled. “No stabbing your own until AFTER we conquer! Until then, you stab the enemy only!” A wave of discontent rose. Thanquol silenced it with another exploding head.

“They love me, yes-yes. They worship me already,” he muttered as the army chanted his name.

The great boats were prepared. Slaves lined the hulls, dangling in harnesses where waves would splash them awake, forced to row endlessly.

I raised my staff high. “We will plunder! Enslave! Rule the surface, yes-yes! Soon, the world itself will crawl at our feet!” I shout and all of them chant how much they love me, those who don’t explode.

The cheering was cut short. Above the waves, a figure streaked across the sky, propelled by winds bent to his will.

Thanquol squinted, warpstone-mad eyes narrowing. The figure landed in front of the fleet, black hair whipping in the wind, dark eyes glinting with a strange calm.

He smiled.

Thanquol’s fur prickled. His lips curled into a sneer.”Not for long. Soon he will kneel, or die screaming, yes-yes!”

A/n: I understand that those unfamiliar with Warhammer Fantasy and the Skaven faction might be scratching their heads. Feel free to ask any questions here, I’ll be happy to clarify! I tried my best to provide enough context to keep things engaging without making it overly expository. Let me know your thoughts on the chapter.

Power stones and reviews please.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep